“I was told by people that it was a powder, it was a white powder, and that we snorted just a little bit of it and eventually that all just started happening,” said Chris May of Council Bluffs.

WEBVTT IVE.rt>> TWO MEN AND A WOMAN PASSEDOUT OUTSIDE A COUNCIL BLUFFS GASSTATION ALL SUSPECTED OF OVERDOSING ONFENTANYL.>>rt I WAS TOLD BY PEOPLE THAT ITWAS A POWDER IT WAS A WHITEPOWDER AND THAT WE SNORTED JUSTA LITTLE BIT OF IT ANDEVENTUALLY THAT ALL JUST STARTEDHAPPENING.rt>> CHRIS MAY SAYS HE DOESN'TREMEMBER ANYTHING.THIS VIDEO FROM AUGUST FIRST,CAPTURED BY PEOPLE WHO TRIED TOHELP, AS ALL 3 WERE IN CRITICALCONDITION.rtTHE 26-YEAR-OLD SAYS MEDICSSHOCKED HIM AND USED NARCAN TOREVERSE THE EFFECTS OF THEOPIOID OVERDOSE.rtSTILL, HE HAD LUNG AND KIDNEYFAILURE, BLOOD CLOTS, MEMORYLOSS AND SPENT MORE THAN A WEEKIN THE HOSPITAL.>>rt THE DOCTORS BASICALLY SAIDIT'S JUST LIKE A MIRACLE THATI'M STILL HERE BUT I AM STILLHERE AND I NEED TO DO SOMETHINGPOSITIVE WITH MY LIFE WHICH I'MTRYING TO DO THAT YOU KNOW rt>> MAY SAYS HE DIDN'T KNOWENOUGH ABOUT FENTANYL, AND HASBEEN SOBER SINCE, USING HISSECOND CHANCE TO SHARE ALIFE-SAVING WARNINrt>> HOPEFULLY THIS HELPS PEOPLE.HOPEFULLY THEY LISTEN BEFOREIT'S TOO LATE>> NEARLY TWO MONTHS LATER, THISYOUNG FATHER AND HOPEFUL SON ISMAKING PrtROGRESS INSTEAD OF DRUGS TO DEAL WITHANXIETY, HE'S WORKING OUT ANDGOING TO THERAPY.>> THERAPY IS REALLY GOOD.WE TALK ABOUT WAYS TO STAYrtPOSITIVE AND ON THE RIGHT TRAC>> HE VOLUNTEERED FOR INTENSIVEOUTPATIENT TREATMENT ATTRANSITIONAL SERVICES OF IOWA rtMARINA THIRY , A MENTAL HEALTH &SUBSTANCE USE THERAPIST THERE,WORKS WITH DOZENS OF CASES LIKEMAY'S.rt>> IT IS BECOMING SO DEADLY ANDSO DANGEROUS SO QUICKLY >> THIRY SAYS SYNTHETIC OPIOIDSARE NOW CHEAPER AND EASIER TOBUY rtAS A COMMUNITY COMINGTOGETHER TO BREAK THE STIGMAONE, AND THEN GIVING THE PROPERSUPPORT TO THESE FAMILIES THATARE STRUGGLINGrt>> FOR MAY MOTIVATION COMES FROMHIS BABY GIRL, ADELYNE .AND FAMILY SHERRY, SO HOW LONG ARE THETHERAPY SESSIONS USUALLY?CHRIS, USUALLY AN HOUR >> HIS AUNT GIVING THIrtS ROSARYAS A REMINDER OF MIRACLE MOMENTS>> WHEN I WALKED IN THATHOSPITAL ROOM, I KNEW HE WASGOING TO BE OK BECAUSE SOMETHINGTOLD ME INSIDE AND TO ME THATWAS GODrt>> FAITH AND FAMILY, GIVING MAYA FRESH OUTLOO>> I JUST BASICALLY RESTARTED MYLIFE AND THAT'rtS THE WAY I LOOKAT IT, YOU KNOW

Fentanyl overdose survivor warns others of dangers, shares hope

“I was told by people that it was a powder, it was a white powder, and that we snorted just a little bit of it and eventually that all just started happening,” said Chris May of Council Bluffs.

Related Content

May said he doesn’t remember anything and that it’s still difficult to watch the video from Aug. 1, captured by people who tried to help.

The 26-year-old says medics shocked him and used Narcan to reverse the effects of the opioid overdose.

Still, May said, he had lung and kidney failure, blood clots, memory loss and spent more than a week in the hospital.

“The doctors basically said it's just like a miracle that I'm still here, but I am still here and I need to do something positive with my life which, I'm trying to do that, you know,” said May.

May added he didn't know enough about fentanyl and has been sober since, while using his second chance to share a life-saving warning.

“Hopefully this helps people,” said May. “Hopefully they listen before it's too late.”

The young father and hopeful son said he is making progress: Instead of drugs to deal with anxiety, he's working out and going to therapy.

“Therapy is really good,” May said. We talk about ways to stay positive and on the right track.”

May said he volunteered to go to intensive outpatient treatment at Transitional Services of Iowa in Council Bluffs.

Marina Thiry, a mental health and substance use therapist there, works with dozens of cases like May's and told KETV NewsWatch 7 synthetic opioids are now cheaper and easier to buy.

“It is becoming so deadly and so dangerous so quickly,” Thiry said, while suggesting ways the public can help. “As a community coming together to break the stigma, one, and then giving the proper support to these families that are struggling.”

For May, motivation comes from his baby girl Adelyne and other family.

May’s aunt Sherry Dolezal joined for the interview with KETV NewsWatch 7 and gave him rosary as a reminder of miracle moments

“When I walked in that hospital room, I knew he was going to be OK because something told me inside and to me that was God,” said Dolezal.

May said he’s thankful for faith and family giving him a fresh outlook.

“I just basically restarted my life and that's the way I look at it, you know,” said May.

May shared his insurance is covering outpatient treatment, but next, he wants to go to residential rehab, which his insurance will not pay for.

If you or someone you know is battling an opioid addiction, we have a list of resources in the State of Addiction page.